This feature describes spore colour in water. Assess colour from the body (middle) of spores, including any colour tints immediately adjacent to the spore wall (which usually appears as a dark line) and, for thick-walled spores, between the two lines that delimit the spore wall.

Spores that are hyaline in water may be amyloid (dark blue) or dextrinoid (reddish brown) in Melzer's Reagent.

Spore colour may be different in KOH solution in comparison to that in water, particularly for non-hyaline spores. Spores that are coloured in water (such as those that are pinkish) can become yellow-brown in KOH solution.

In assessing this feature, we have sometimes relied on information from literature where the mounting medium has not been specified, so it is possible that some states are incorrectly coded for some genera.

Choose this state if: spores are very pale (usually yellow- or pink-tinted) when viewed in water mounts under the microscope. This spore colour is also described as stramineous (straw-coloured).

For thick-walled spores, look for pale tints (such as yellow) in the spore wall (between the two darker lines that are the outer and inner boundaries of the wall). Pale tints are intensified when there are several spores on top of one another. If the pink tint is pronounced see pink, vinaceous, grey or green.